CPEC has a renewed focus on Balochistan development, says Pakistani Minister

ISLAMABAD: China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has a renewed focus on the socio-economic development of the Balochistan province, Pakistani Minister for Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin said in a meeting with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Reconciliation and Harmony in Balochistan Nawabzada Shahzain Bugti.

During the meeting, Tarin said that the development of Balochistan was the top priority of the federal government. He said that the government had been working to provide better employment opportunities to the youth of the province.

Extending a warm welcome to the SAPM, Tarin said the government had initiated mega projects in road and irrigation infrastructure, education and health facilities, agricultural and industrial development to ensure provision of facilities in the province.

He assured the SAPM of full support and cooperation in every possible way for the progress and development of Balochistan.

Last week, Prime Minister Imran Khan had appointed Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) chief Shahzain Bugti as Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Reconciliation and Harmony in Balochistan.

The appointment came amid the government’s efforts for holding talks with “disgruntled Baloch leaders.” Earlier, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said Balochistan would soon be a ‘cradle of peace.’

Before appointing Bugti as the SAPM, PM Imran Khan had said he was mulling over speaking to the dissidents in Balochistan, as the situation in the province had changed, and Pakistan was moving towards a better future due to the CPEC.